Internal combustion engine primer



J. P. JOHNSON INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE PRIMER Aug; 1935.

Filed Nov. 23, 19:54

INVENTOR.

ATTO Es Patented ug. 27, 1935 UNITED STATES 2,012,721 INTERNAL CgMIBUSTION `ENGINE MER James P. Johnson, ClevelandLOhio Application November 23, 1934, Serial No. 154,516v

11 Claims.

The present invention relates to a fluid dispensing device for withdrawing fluid from one place, such as a storage tank or vessel, and dispensing the same to one or a plurality of selected points. Specifically the invention relates to a primer for internal combustion engines, such as gasoline engines commonly employed in automobiles, airplanes, etc.

Primers for internal combustion engines usually consist of a manually operated plunger pump, comprising suitable inlet and outlet check valves, the intake of which is connected with the fuel or gasoline supply tank and the outlet or discharge with one or a. plurality of cylinders or engines as the case might be. Since in operation the outlet check valve may at times be subject to the vacuum or suction of the engine, it is im perative that some means be provided for either shutting oli the fuel supply to the primer pump or for holding the outlet check valve closed at all times except during the compression stroke of the plunger. The use of valves etc. for shutting oil the fuel supply is obviously inadequate.

Various means have been employed in the prior art to maintain the outlet check valve closed at all times except during the compression stroke of the plunger, all of which have been subject to numerous disadvantages.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a novel fluid dispensing device of the character referred to, which will be simple and compact in construction, positive and reliable in operation, which will not be subject to the same objections as the prior art devices when used as a primer for internal combustion engines.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel fluid dispensing device comprising a manually operated plunger pump provided with a booster valve for opening the discharge or outlet check valve of the pump so that a stronger valve spring, etc., for the check valve may be employed Without materially increasing, if at all, the force necessary to operate the pump, other things remaining the same.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a. novel fluid dispensing device comprising a manually reciprocable pump and a distribution valve in which the handle for operating the pump is employed for setting the distribution valve' to either cut 01T the source of fluid supply or to direct the discharge to one or more selected points, which dispensing device is provided with a'. booster valve of larger area than that of the discharge check valve for opening the check valve, whereby a stronger valve spring, etc., may be employed to hold the discharge check valve closed without materially increasing the force necessary to operatethe pump.

The invention residesv in certain novel features and details of construction and combinations and 5' arrangements of parts, and further objects and advantages thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains from the following description of the preferred embodiment thereof described with reference to the 10 accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspectiveview of a two-engine primer, designed for twin motor airplanes, embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the primer shown 15 in Fig. 1 with the operating handle set to prime one of the engines designated as the "right engine;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section on the line 3 3 of Figs. 2 and 4, with portions shown in elevation;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Figs. 2, 3, and 7, with portions shown in elevation;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3,

I with portions shown in elevation;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 3;

and v Fig. 8 is an enlargement of a portion of Fig. 3.

Similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views of 30 the drawing.

The present invention is particularly applicable 'to primers for internal combustion engines and is illustrated as embodied in a two-engine primer designed for use on twin motor airplanes, .where 35 the motors are designated right or left, indicating their location with reference to the pilot.

Briefly, the primer illustrated comprises a manually reciprocable plunger pump for withdrawing fuel from the storage tank and dispens- 40 ing it to the engines, and a distribution valve for directing the discharge of the pump to one or the other of the engines so that the engines may be primed and started individually. The construction is such that the distribution valve is operatively connected to the plunger when the plunger is at the end of its compression stroke and' may be rotated to either cut off the source of fluid supply or connect the pump with one or the other of the engines by rotating the operating handle connected to the pump plunger.

The outlet check valve for the pump is located in the distribution valve and is provided with aboosterv valve for opening the same which permits the use of a stronger check valve spring without materially increasing, if at all, the force required to reciprocate the plunger. The advantages of this construction will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, as it is necessary to prevent the outlet check valve from opening under the suce tion of the engine in the event the primer is connecte'd to one of the engines while the same is operating, for otherwise fuel will be drawn into the engine from the storage tank through the primer. The present primer can be operated without the necessity of connecting the same to either engine while operating, but such is not the case with a primer for more than Itwo engines, such as one designed for use on a tri-motor airplane, unless the motors are started in a predetermined sequence. In any event, there is always the possibility of accidentally connecting the primer to an operating engine which must be guarded against.

Referring to the drawing, the body or casing of the primer, designated in general by the reference character A, comprises a tubular body porltion 1 provided with an inlet connection v8 and a plurality of outlet or distribution connections 9 adjacent the rear end thereof, and an annular flange I0 adjacent the .front end by means of which the primer may be mounted on the cowl of an airplane or other suitable support. The inlet connection 8 is adapted to be connected to a storage tank by a supply pipe (not shown) and -the outlet connections 94 to the motors, etc., by distribution pipes (not shown). The number of outlet or distribution connections 9 is determined by the number of different points of discharge desired, as will be readily understood by Ithose familiar with the art.

The pump proper comprises a plunger, designated in general by the reference character B, reciprocable in a cylindrical bore in the casing A, counterbored for a short distance at the front to accommodate glands I5 and I6 and packing I1 held in position and adjustable to take up wear, etc., by a cap or gland nu-t I8 threaded onto the front end of the casing A. Accidental rotation of the cap nut I8, due to vibration, etc., is prevented by the engagement of a leaf spring I9, riveted to the rear side of the ange I0 and projecting through an aperture therein, with ratchet teeth formed on the under side of -the nut.

The plunger B comprises two cylindrical members 25 and 26 slidably supported within the casing A and movable relative to each other longitudinally of the plunger. The member 25v is tubular in form being counterbored from the front end lthereof, and is closed by a knob stem 21 secured within the outer end of the counterbore by means of a pin-28. A knob 30 non-rotatably secured to the knob stem 21 by a screw 3| is provided for manual operation of the plunger. The member 26 is xed or secured to the rear end of a rod 33 slidably supported within the member 25, Relative rotation between the members 25 and 26 is prevented by a tongue and groove connection 34, 35 which permits limited relative longitudinal movement therebetween without disengaging the tongue 34, which is formed on the member 25, from the groove 35 which is in the member 26. The members 25 and 26 are continuously urged apart to extend the plunger B a limited amount by a compression spring 36 positioned in the counterbore in the front end of the member 25 between the knob stem 21 anda washer 31 xed to the front end of the rod 33.

The distribution valve, designated in general by the reference character C, comprises a frustoconical tubular valve 'member 40 rotatably supported in a correspondingly tapered aperture in the rear end of the casing A. The rear end of the aperture inwhich the valve member 40 is positioned is counterbored and closed by a threaded `plug 4I. A compression spring 42 positioned between. the valve member 4l) and the plug 4I maintains the valve member in position at al1 times.

The longitudinal bore of the valve member 40 communicates with th'e bottom of the pump cylinder and is closed by a ball check valve 43 and a booster valve 44 for opening the same, both of which are positioned ahead of an outlet port 45 in the valve member 40, which port 45 is adapted, upon rotation of the valve member, to be aligned with a plurality of outlet or distribution ports 46, in this instance two ports positioned apart, in the casing A.

The ball check valve 43 seats against a conical surface 41 formed in the rear end of a sleeve 48 secured within the bore of the valve member 40, and is continuously urged to closed position by a compression spring 49, hereinafter referred to as the outlet check valve spring. 'I 'he booster valve 44 seats against a conical valve seat formed in the valve member 40, and the area of the head of the booster valve 44 is considerably greater than that of the check valve 43. The booster valve is provided with a stern 50 adapted to engage the ball check valve 43 and opens the same upon movement of the booster valve during the compression stroke of the plunger. A slight clearance is provided between the ball check valve r3 and the booster valve stem 50 to insure seating of the ball check valve except during the compression stroke of the plunger.' The difference in area between the head of the booster valve 44 and the check valve 43 permits the use of a much heavier outlet check valve spring without producing excessive and objectionable resistance to the movement of the plunger B.

The valve member 40 is provided with two inlet ports 52 spaced 180 apart in constant communication with the lower end of the pump cylinder and positioned so that one or the other thereof communicates with an inlet port 53 in the casing A when the outlet port 45 in the valve member 40 is aligned with one of the outlet ports 46 in the casing A. In all intermediate positions of the valve member 4D, the inlet port 53 and both outlet ports 46 are closed by the valve member 40. The inlet to the pump is closed during the compression stroke thereof by a ball check valve 55 adapted to close an inlet port 56 in an inlet coupling 51 threaded into the inlet connection II and continuously urged to a seated position by a compression spring 58 hereinafter referred to as the inlet check valve spring.

The distribution valve C is rotated to connect the pump cylinder with the inlet connection and one or the other of the outlet or distribution connections by the engagement of a key 60 formed integral with the member 26 of the plunger B in a groove formed in the front end of the valve member 40, when the plunger is at the bottom of its stroke, upon rotation of the knob 3B and, in

turn, the plunger B to a predetermined position.

An ari-ow 6I on the knob 30, in cooperation with an indicator plate 63 secured to the ange I0, designates the three positions of the distribution valve, which are off, right", and left, corresponding to a .valve setting which either disconnects the primer pump from the intake and both.

outlets, or connects the same with the right or left outlet.

In order tol prevent relative rotation between the plunger B and the distribution valve C when the plunger is at a position other than at the vbottom of its stroke, the member 25 of the plunger B is provided with a projection 65 adapted to slide in one of two grooves 66 in the cylinder wall of the primer pump. The grooves 66 correspond with one or the other of the valve settings which connect the primer pump with the outlets and, in turn, with the engines. The plunger B can be rotated to move the projection 65 from one or the other of the grooves 66 only when the plunger B is at the bottom on its stroke and the projection 65 aligned with a circuitous groove 61 extending from one to the other of the slots 66.

The construction of the plunger B and the location of the projection 65 are such that the projection 65 is partly positioned in the grooves 66 when the operating knob is in the right or left position with no pressure applied thereto, and not entirely in the circuitous groove 61. When it is desired to rotate the plunger, it is necessary to depress the operating knob 30 against the action of the spring 36, thereby moving the member 26 toward the bottom of the cylinder and the projection 65 into the circuitous slot 61, after which the plunger may be rotated as desired. The ends of the circuitous slot 61 serve as positive stops for either the right or left position of' the distribution va1ve,fetc., and a depression 68 in the forward wall of the groove 61 midway between the ends thereof provides an off stop for retaining the plunger B and the distribution valve C in the off position. Movement of the plunger B toward the right, as viewed in Figs. 3 and 4, is limited by the engagement of the projection 65 with the gland I6 which closes the right-hand end of the slot 66.

It is believed that the construction, operation, and application of the herein described primer will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing. Suice it to say that the primer can be readily connected with either the right or the left-hand motor by turning the knob 30 in the manner heretofore referred to. primer is not in use, the operating knob is set in the off position and the primer disconnected from the supply so that there will vbe no possibility of fuel being drawn into the engines through the same incident to the suction created in the cylinders of the engines on thel intake strokes thereo`f. Due to the use of the booster valve 44, the discharge check valve spring 49 can be made of sufficient strength to maintain the check valve 43 closed under all circumstances without materially, if at all, increasing the force required to actuate the plunger.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated no provision is made for closing the booster valve 44 other than the outlet check valve spring 49. Due to the slight clearance provided between the booster valve stem 50 and the ball check valve 43 the booster valve does not seat under the action of the outlet check valve spring, but this is not material to the operation of the present device. It will be noted that the booster valve 44 operates in a long tapered or conical valve seat, and the area of the opening produced by a given movement of the booster valve is less than that produced by the same movement of the ball check valve, the result is a pressure drop When the through the booster valve when the plunger is rapidly moved through the compression stroke. In other words, it might be stated that the booster valve is operated by the flow of the fluid past the same. If desired, a light spring may be placed behind the booster valve 44 to maintain the same closed except during the compression stroke.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated as applied to a two-engine primer, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention is equally applicable to primers for single engines or for any number of engines. The arrangement of the distribution or outlet ports in a three-engine primer is shown in dot-dash lines in Fig. 7, from which it is believed the construction of such a primer will be apparent. The primer of the present invention may also be used to prime diierent cylinders of a single engine in place of multiple engines, or it may be used for dispensing fluid of any kind to one or a plurality of places.

'I'he ,invention resides in certain novel features and details of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, and this application is intended to cover all variations, adaptations and uses thereof that come within the knowledge and customary practice of thoseskilled in the art to which it pertains, and I do not Wish to be limited to the particular construction shown which may be varied within the scope of this invention, and I particularly point out and claim as my invention the following:

1. In a liquid dispensing device, the combination of a reciprocating pump having a discharge port, a check valve for closing the discharge port of said pump, and a lifting valve in advance of said check valve for opening the check valve. v

2. In a liquid dispensing device, the c ombination of a housing comprising a cylinder having an outlet port communicating therewith, a piston slidably supported in said cylinder, means for reciprocating said piston, a check valve for closing said outlet port, and a lifting valve in advance of said check valve normally in engagement therewith for opening the same upon the compression stroke of said piston.

3` In a liquid dispensing device, the combination of a housing comprising a cylinder, a piston slidably supported in said cylinder, means for reciprocating said piston, a distribution valve having a discharge port therein for controlling the flow of uid from said cylinder, said distribution valve being rotatably supported in said housing, a check valve in said distribution valve for closing the port thereof during the intake stroke of said piston, and a lifting valve between said check valve and said cylinder normally in engagement with said check valve for opening the same upon the compression stroke of said piston, the area of said lifting valve being greater than that of said check valve.

4. In a liquid dispensing device, the combination of a housing comprising acylinder, a dis- 5. rn a liquid dispensing device, the combina-.

tion of a housing comprising a cylinder, a distribution valve rotatably supported in said housing for directing the flow of uid from said cylinder, a piston slidably supported in said cylinder and comprising a plurality of parts movable rela-` i in a semi-annular groove in said cylinder wall and prevent movement of said piston except in predetermined positions.

6. In a liquid dispensing device, the combination of a housing comprising a cylinder, a distribution valve supported in said housing, a check valve in said distribution valve, a lifting valve between said check valve and said cylinder for opening said check valve, a piston slidably supported in said cylinder, said piston comprising a plurality of parts movable relative to each other longitudinally of the cylinder, resilient means within said piston for continuously urging said parts in a direction to extend the length of said piston, and means at the lower end of said piston for engaging said distribution valve when the piston is adjacent the bottom of the cylinder.

7. In a liquid dispensing device, the combination of a housing comprising a cylinder. a distribution valve rotatably supported in said housing for controlling the flowof fluid from said cylinder, a check valve in said distribution valve, a lifting valve between said check valve and said cylinder for operating said check valve, a piston slidably supported in said cylinder and comprising a plurality of members movable relative to each other longitudinally of said cylinder, means for preventing relative rotation between said members of the piston, resilient means within said piston for continuously urging said members in a direction to extend the. length of the piston, means on the lower end of said piston for engaging said distribution valve when the piston is adjacent the bottom of the cylinder, and a projection on one of said members adapted to engage in a semiannular groove in said cylinder wall and prevent movement of said piston except in predetermined positions.

8. In a liquid dispensing device, the combingtion of a reciprocating pump provided with a discharge passage, a quick opening check valve for closing `said discharge passage, a slow opening valve in said discharge passage in advance of said check valve adapted to move said check valve upon movement thereof in a direction to open said passage, the area of said`second mentioned valve being greater than that of said check valve.

9. In a liquid dispensing device, the combination of a reciprocating pump having a discharge passage, a quick opening check valve in said discharge passage, said discharge passage being provided with a frusto-conical or tapered section divergmg towards said check valve, a valve member slidably supported within said tapered section adapted to open said check valve upon movement thereof in a direction toward the end of said tapered section having the largest diameter, the effective area of said last mentioned valve member being greater than that of said check valve.

10. In a liquid dispensing device the comblnation of a housing comprising a cylinder, a piston slidably supported in said cylinder, means for reciprocating said piston, a distribution valve in said housing for controlling the ow of fluid from said cylinder, said distribution valve having an aperture therein communicating with said cylinder, a quick opening check valve for closing said aperture, a, slow opening valve between said check valve and said cylinder adapted to open said check valve upon movement thereof in a direction to open said aperture.

ll. In a liquid dispensing device, the combination of a housing comprising a cylinder, a piston slidably supported in said cylinder, means for reciprocating said piston, a distribution valve in said housing for controlling the flow of fluid from said cylinder, said distribution valve having an aperture therein communicating with said cylinder, a check valve for closing said aperture, said aperture having a frusto-conical tapered section diverging towards said check valve and located inteiznediate said check valve and said cylinder, a valve member slidably supported in said aperture within said tapered section adapted to open said check valve upon movement thereof in a direction toward-the end of said tapered section having the largest diameter, the area of said valve member being greater than that of said check valve.

JAMES P. JOHNSON. 

